What are As-Built Drawings and why it is important for the construction industry? (Part-1)

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As-Built Drawings helps the owner, surveyors
and facility managers to enclose the project’s components such as location,
dimensions and other related measurements. It also includes additional details
that are vital for the project such as a specification of walls, doors, HVAC
systems, electrical fixtures and more.

As-built drawings are completed and submitted by a contractor once the project is completed. Drawings are revised from original design drawings to reflect any changes in the on-site such as component relocations for coordination, rerouting of distribution systems, etc. As-Built Drawing Servicesspecify all the structures and elements within the scope of the building project; all the modification and adjustments should be included along with a record of approvals.

It is
essential for the owners as it can be used in the future for existing
restructures or grasping any change in the built model. It is crucial as it
furnishes the representation of the entire project on completion. These are the
revised drawings which are submitted after a construction project is completed.
It includes all the revision and changes from the pilot drawing of the complete
project.

Architects
and the designers create the original drawing plans which serve as the base for
as-built drawings. These people are the most qualified persons to make
as-built. The most crucial challenge faced by these peoples is the changes
track. Final as-built drawings are the responsibility of the contractor.

The contractor is solely responsible for the actual construction and is capable of document changes and modifications as they occur. It the contractor who adds changes mark-ups to the final Construction Drawing Services on-site with indicators. These drawings are later used by the consultant team to review issues and produce record drawings of the constructed projects. It is usually used for health and safety measures and maintenance for the client upon the completion of the project.

The
traditional way of evaluating as-built drawings was a failure in project
management, building rehabilitation and renovation in future as it lacked
proper documents for an existing building, its change orders and as-built
drawings documentation. Traditional as-built drawings had many issues and
challenges in managing and maintaining construction projects throughout the
project lifecycle.

Rework was
the common problem that made the project delivery be delay incurs overhead time
and cost on improving the construction data. It is the communication flow in
different phases of the project that reduces rework. The construction project
has many professionals working on the project, which follows a fragmented
management method. If the information is not exact in any phases, it can lead
to inaccuracy and errors in the documentation.

In the
traditional method of as-built drawings, many failures lead to drop the
construction project’s accuracy and preciseness. But with the advent of
construction management software and BIM, we can overcome the issues and
challenges faced in a built environment.

Construction
technologies have come up to automate workflows and integrate collaborative
work that improves construction productivity. It helps to achieve the minimum
make the span of a project, reduce cumbersome workflow, manage considerations
of more than a single project, etc.

By
restraining the main construction factors, it can give project managers,
surveyors or foreman the chance to make decision accurate in a given time. By opting
for suitable construction management software, you can take qualitative
decisions in real-time. If construction management is successful, then your
project is also accomplished.

Construction management software and BIM can identify conflicts and resolve them by altering the waste of traditional documentation. As-Built drawings can help clients to visualize the building and provide a virtual tour of every aspect of the buildings with BIM Services. It helps to improve productivity and sustainability of building constructed in a given span of time.

Why As-built Drawing is essential and who get
benefitted from it?

Construction
projects are not the exact and precise as a model is made in the initial stages
of it being constructed or planned. Changes made in the model helps the
contractors to gather information for installations of components differently
from the original design, which makes the contractors have a record of changes
made in the plan or drawings.

As-built
drawings have two substantial principal purposes, which is essential
documentation in any construction projects.

From the drawings data, we can make future changes
which serve as the renovation of existing structures or modification in
buildings. It is easier and efficient for the contractors to retrieve as-built
documents for accessing information on drainage systems, ducts, etc.

It is practical tools for the facility managers to
define critical items and objects accurately.

As-Built
drawings are the bases to all the construction project’s shareholders:-

Contractor: – As-built drawings are an important
source for recording changes and alteration done in construction changes. As
construction transition shifts from one stage to next, it is easier for the
contractors to visualize necessary action in the different phases. Issues and
complications are easily identified and resolved before they occur in the
construction phase.

Owners/Clients:- As-built documentation are
crucial for the building owners and the clients due to installations and item
records that is important if the owner needs to quickly resolve an issue or
change any building design in future.

Property Buyers: – It is vital for the property buyers as the final sale of the property; it provides crucial information to what is being sold and bought and serve as the basis for future renovations and developments..